Plenty of systems in the real world rely on the refrigeration cycle; from massive supermarket refrigeration systems to the AC unit in your car. Pressure transducers are vital to the function of all refrigeration systems. They help control the very function by which refrigeration system operates. The refrigeration cycle is part of all of these systems and is necessary for them to function properly.
The Refrigeration Cycle
Understanding what happens to a refrigerant during the refrigeration process can be helpful in why a pressure transducer is necessary. First, cold, low-pressure refrigerant gas enters the compressor where the temperature of the gas rapidly rising due to the gas being compressed. The refrigerant will then enter the condenser where it will release heat to the outside environment and condense into the liquid phase.
The expansion valve reduces the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant where it will turn back into a gas. That phase change will rapidly drop the temperature of the refrigerant and passes through the evaporator where air will be cooled from the refrigerant and exit the system to lower the outside environment temperature.
So, throughout all of that process why would you even care about measuring the pressure?
Necessity of a Pressure Transducer in Refrigeration
Garbage in, garbage out. If your refrigeration system is not properly measuring all of the inputs and outputs then your system will not function properly. Generally, pressure transducers are placed near the outlet of the compressor, but there can be more transducers depending on the application and complexity of the refrigeration system. The data the pressure transducer collects is sent to a controller, which can automatically control the compressor in the system.
Energy efficiency is now more important than ever before. Countries all over the world are calling for greener practices and that includes greener refrigeration. Air conditioning accounts for 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures, which is a massive amount. Creating a better system for even a fraction of these systems could lead to huge energy savings.
One path to improving refrigeration efficiency is optimizing the pressure transducer measuring system. The correct information will help the electronic expansion valve to maximize the efficiency of the refrigeration system. Adding another pressure transducer at the evaporator outlet will gather more helpful information for the control of the system.
If there is insufficient pressure in the system then there may be a refrigerant leak. The pressure transducer can alert technicians before it becomes a larger problem and damages sensitive equipment.
What to Look for
There are a number of different properties any engineer needs to consider when deciding which pressure transducer is the best for their refrigeration system.
Temperature Tolerance
The most obvious consideration has to be the pressure transducer’s ability to handle rapid temperature changes. The refrigerant is undergoing rapid temperature changes and the environment is also going through the same temperature changes. The pressure transducer still has to function perfectly throughout the entire refrigerant process.
Accuracy
Accuracy may be the most important criteria if your goal is to increase the efficiency of any refrigeration system. If your system has a more accurate pressure transducer your organization will be able to save countless dollars in efficiency.
Wide Range of Pressures
The pressure transducer is going to be measuring a very wide range of pressures. Ensure that you choose a pressure transducer that has the ability to measure the appropriate pressures. The refrigeration cycle is conducted at many different pressures. Having a pressure transducer that is going to reliably measure these pressures is a necessity in any system with a refrigeration cycle.
Carefully define the needs of your refrigeration system before deciding which pressure transducer your system will use. This will guide the product selection and enable your team to create the most efficient refrigeration system.
- What is a pressure transducer?
- How do pressure transducers work?
- Pressure sensor vs transducer
- Custom pressure transducers
- Pressure transducers FAQ
- Selecting a pressure sensor
- How to specify
- Installing a pressure transducer
- Troubleshooting
- Selecing an amplifier
- Selecing a controller
- Selecing a data logger
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